Outstanding teaching and learning...
by Monika Hrušková
During the first preparation week in August there was a training day, delivered by Mr Steven Burnage who had travelled from the UK to meet and further train all our teachers. Besides positive energy, he also brought with him a number of useful teaching tips. He led a training session called ‘Outstanding Learning and Teaching’ focused on both lesson planning and effective delivery, as well as the student learning process.
He quite rightly pointed out that teachers are inclined to focus perhaps more on teaching and less on childrens’ actual learning.
Let me state here some interesting points I took away from the training and which might be useful to both teacher and parents.
We should all remember the number 20 and 80! In a more traditional teaching model the teacher, who is often at the centre of the lesson, delivers 80% of the teaching, with 20% active participation on the side of learners. It was suggested that this should be swapped. Interestingly, the evidence would suggest that 80% of learning may be forgotten in a more traditional setting as opposed to a mere 20% in the learner-centred model. These numbers show how important it is to focus on active learning.
Here is a well known quote from Confucius, who suggested that “I hear I forget. I see I remember. I try I understand”. If you do not believe then try to learn, for instance, the cha-cha steps by listening to someone competent explaining how to dance, then watch someone dance and finally try it for yourself (ideally with the help of someone skilled) Well…. assess for yourself what is the most effective way.
Finally I would like to mention that if we want to support our kids in making progress, we need to pitch our teaching at the right level for all. Not too difficult and not too easy. We should avoid talks that children cannot yet comprehend. At the same time the learning should be meaningful and yet not overly focused on what students already know.
I wish for us all to find the right balance between all of the above factors which can influence the learning process for our children.
Why should your child attend iSchool?
They will gain perfect knowledge of English.
Your child will become a global citizen with wide understanding of local and international topics.
We put a strong emphasis on the development on subject specific skills rather than on acquisition of knowledge.
Emphasis on skills development (not just memorising).
Individual approach; school’s ability to motivate for improvement.
Your child will be excited to come to school.
School philosophy
You are not buying success, you are paying for the school to monitor your child’s progress to their goals and motivate them to fulfil their potential.
We are not a selective school: we believe that everybody can be successful.
